The "Golden Rule" of Automation: If you can’t do it manually, don’t automate it yet.

It’s tempting to jump straight into make..com, Zapier, or building an AI Agent the second we have a new idea. We want the "robot" to do the work so we don't have to.

But I’ve learned the hard way: Automating a broken process just makes a bigger mess, faster. 📉

Before I touch a single line of code or build a workflow, I follow a simple 3-step rule:

Do it manually 5 times: This helps me find the "hidden" steps I didn't realize were there.
Document the "Why": Why am I doing this step? Is it actually necessary for the result?
Simplify first: If a human can do it in 3 steps instead of 10, the AI will be 10x more reliable.

AI is an incredible multiplier, but it only multiplies what you give it. Give it a solid, manual SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), and it will work wonders. Give it chaos, and it will give you a headache.

Take the time to "clean the pipes" manually first. Your future self (and your API budget) will thank you!

Question for the group: What’s one task you tried to automate too early, only to realize the manual process was actually the problem?

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